In The Wilderness

It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything...oops. I have been either very busy or had a lot of free time, which I've used either to be utterly lazy, or to cram in a bunch of things I need to get done. But I am still trying to remind myself to take a little bit of time out for the blog and share with everyone. :) 

Today's post will be a little bit different.

I've felt since the end of 2013 that 2014 would be a special year. I have believed it would bring about some kind of change, and it would be a year of growth. And now that we're 3 & 1/2 months into the year, I'm thinking I was right. So far, a lot of things have changed in my own life!

I finally got a job a little over a month ago [more on that later].

I am finally a licensed driver [Yes, I got my driver's license at 19! Not my idea].

I've got a new phone that I am paying for myself, and am on the verge of finally getting my own car.

It's funny how after months [or even years, as in the case of the car and license] of praying and hoping for these things, God brings them to me all at once. You can spend such a long time "in the wilderness" - as I like to put it - waiting for God to send you "manna and quail" or waiting for God to lead you to a kind of "promised land." And then, often when you least expect it, you see the answers to your prayers. Sometimes they seem like a lucky chance, but then as time goes on, you begin to see how God was working behind-the-scenes all along, putting together the pieces of your blessings, preparing the perfect time and place for you to receive them. Sometimes we don't even recognize them at first. Sometimes we don't understand them. But the more you trust God with your desires and your circumstances, the more you see His divine hand rearranging the mess, creating a beautiful picture with the rubble of your life. 

There are still situations in my life that I desperately desire to change. Sometimes I feel like there is no use in praying, because I don't see these things ever changing. But it's not about the way I feel. Despite what I do or don't believe, if God has a will to transform these things, He will. And though my heart may feel discouraged, that does not mean I don't trust Him. I think Christians feel guilty when they have doubts, and aren't fully convinced of the plan of action God will take. But I think true trust is like courage- 

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." *

Having courage does not mean you don't feel afraid, but rather that you press on despite your fear.

In the same way, I think God sees that we truly trust Him when we pray to Him even if we feel like it's hopeless. 

When we credit Him with glory and shout "Thank You!" in the midst of confusing and difficult times. 

When we say "Jesus, I trust you," with all of the conviction we can muster, even if our knees are trembling. 

Whether your life is currently smooth and delightful, or seems unstable and fruitless, know that it's not over. Your circumstances can change in an instant. That knowledge can be extremely comforting or extremely scary. But, with the practice of calling on Jesus and saying, "I trust You" in good and bad conditions, you can become like the apostle Paul and "learn the secret of being content in any and every situation." 

*I have seen this quote credited to several different people. I do not know the original source, so I will leave it to stand alone. :)